Matthew Wilder

I am a winemaker with over 10 years of experience growing wine grapes in several different areas of the country, most recently here in the northeast. I'm interested in partnering with an existing farm that has ideal conditions to plant a few acres of wine grapes. If there is space for rent to set up a small cellar and storage space for some specialty equipment, that would be a plus. I am actively searching separately for an ideal site to set up a small estate winery/ vineyard as well. My background is in ultra-premium wine production, so I'm looking for a partner who is comfortable letting me manage the land, the nutritional inputs, and cultural management practices. In all cases I would be putting more overhead into management than conventional practice calls for. Vineyards add an enormous amount of equity to the value of the land over time, and I would be willing to strike a deal that matches the opportunity cost that the farmland currently has the potential to produce.  Pastures and hay fields that are somewhat stony or have stony subsoils are ideal sites in the Connecticut River Valley. Given the long-term nature of this farming plan, I appreciate that finding the right fit and the right partner is key. I've been working on a business plan for both winery and vineyard for several years. I'm in no hurry, but I'm also ready to take the next step at any given time. Grape growing is a high risk, high reward venture. I'd prefer to partner with an experienced farm owner that appreciates the commitment and the patience required to succeed in this business. Thank you very much for your interest.